Tag: achieving

The Greatest Joy of My Life: Gratitude Sunday and My Son

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

Day 39 of the 7-40 Challenge
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Gratitude Sunday – The Thank You Campaign

Hello and welcome to Day 39. It’s Gratitude Sunday, and another post in my Thank You Campaign.

The topic of today’s post is my son.

The Dream

When my wife and I first got married, we dreamed about our future. We talked about the size of the family we would want. We made plans and looked forward with expectancy for when our children would arrive.

When we were younger, we dreamed of having a very large family—as many as God would give us. That’s what I used to like to say.

We were married when we were 20 years old. We weren’t quite ready to start having children right after getting married, so we waited around five years before we began planning for our children to arrive.

The Threat

It was about that same time that I had my first bout with testicular cancer.

To say that this was the opposite of what we wanted is a very true statement. Because of the part of the body that cancer attacks, and because of having to have that tumor removed, we were uncertain if we would be able to have children at all.

So we went from praying and hoping for a very large family to the very real possibility of just it being a family of two—just my wife and me.

By God’s grace and through His healing, I was cancer-free by the middle of 2005, with a new lease on life and hope that we would be able to, in time, have the children we had prayed for.

The Moment

Fast forward to the fall of 2007.

I remember very clearly lying in bed and seeing the bathroom light come on. And watching my bride stand there with that little indicator in her hand.

It was finally time. It was finally real.

We were going to have a baby.

It was almost five years after we had first started praying and almost ten years after we had gotten married. But our baby was on the way. And we were so excited.

The Birth

Fast forward to the day of his birth in 2008.

After a very long labor period—two and a half days—he was born. When he was delivered, he had an Apgar score of one. They were very concerned about him.

I wasn’t in the room when he was born due to complications. I didn’t find out about the Apgar score until they handed him over to me.

But within minutes, that score had improved to an eight.

Answered prayer. Confirmed relief.

And very soon, Mama, baby, and me were in our hospital room.

The Joy

I will never forget the look of joy and absolute elation on my darling wife’s face.

She had just been through two and a half days of labor, trying to have our son naturally. She had endured a lot of physical duress. She was exhausted. She was beat up.

And you would not have been able to see any of that at that moment. She was transfixed. She was in love.

I wish I had several photographs of that little moment in time to show the picture I have burned in my memory. (Thank God, the iPhone had been invented by then—I do have one.)

She had finally become who she was meant to be in one regard. She was my wife, and now she was our son’s mother.

And the world was right.

The Reality

Fast forward all these years.

The family we thought would be very large is just the three of us. We will still take whatever God gives. But at the same time, I can’t neglect to say: our son has been one of the greatest joys in our lives.

He is so smart and so funny. He is so kind and compassionate. He’s full of character and resolve. He is a perfect blend of his mother and me—and he’s becoming so much more than we are.

It has been such a privilege and a joy to watch him do that.

We tell him from time to time how grateful we are for him. How proud we are of him.

What He Changed

This young man changed my life in so many ways.

He has been one of the catalysts that brought out my work ethic in my late twenties and early thirties.

I remember holding him for the first time, not long after he was born, knowing I would work myself to the bone to provide for our family. That I would do whatever it took to make sure they are taken care of.

I think every parent goes to that moment—where you realize that no matter what it takes, you’ll do it to provide for your family and children. That translated into me getting much more focused on the opportunities I had in front of me in my data career, which I’ve had since before he was born.

And that determination has only intensified over the years.

I now look forward to getting to support him even more as he becomes an adult, as he finds the things he is even more passionate about.

Son

If you’re reading these words, know this:

Your mother and I are so proud of you. We’re so thankful for you. We are so grateful that you are our son.

Not a day goes by that I don’t feel that gratefulness in my heart.

It is one of the greatest joys of my life to be your daddy. I am proud of you and who you are.

Day 39: Complete ✓

All seven habits executed. Gratitude Sunday honored.

Round 1 Progress: 39/40 days (97.5%)

One more day until Round 1 is complete.

See you tomorrow for Day 40.

Your Goals Aren’t Just for You: Day 37

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

Day 37 of the 7-40 Challenge
Friday, February 6, 2026

Welcome to Day 37. It’s the end of the week. It’s Friday. We made it.

And I’m excited. Excited to be here. Excited to still be going. Excited to still be accomplishing.

I’ve got a question for you today: Are your goals just for you?

I think the answer is no.

The Conversation That Brought It Home

I was having a conversation today with someone close to me. I mentioned I was on Day 37 of my journey and that I’d lost 12 pounds since I started.

They looked at me and said, “Seriously, how are you doing this?”

I said, “Okay, I can tell you. I have a number of calories I eat every day, and I exercise for an hour a day.”

And they gave me a look like… Oh.

Look, this is not a difficult concept to understand. The execution of this concept is not necessarily easy. But because I want the goal of being healthier, because I want to achieve my goal weight, because I want to be a better, fitter version of myself, I’m doing something that’s not complex—but the execution is hard.

Because, like I mentioned a couple days ago, everything worth doing in life that’s really worth doing is probably hard.

So we do it anyway.

We talked through it a little more. I said, “Hey, if you want to know more specifically, I’ll be glad to show you.”

And it made me realize: These things I’m doing are not just for me. They’re for the world around me.

Why I’ve Been Documenting Everything

That’s why I’ve been busy documenting and trying hard to live what I’m preaching every day.

Today is Day 37. My execution over these 37 days has been good. Not perfect—good.

I’ve achieved what I set out to achieve every day. I’ve had to make a couple of adjustments here or there. I fell last week and hurt my hand, so I had to give myself days off and time to recover. I stopped lifting weights but kept doing my other exercises.

Same principle applies. I keep moving forward.

Every day, I’ve stayed within or just at my calorie limit. Every day, I’ve drunk 100 ounces of water. Every day, I’ve read my Bible. Every day, I’ve had creative time and worked on projects that are important to me. Every day, I’ve read my book.

I’ve been doing these things that I set out to do, knowing full well that I want to be an example for others so they can achieve their goals as well.

It’s not just about me.

What Impact Could You Have?

So I ask you: What goals do you have? What things are set in front of you that are important to you, that you need to reach?

Have you considered what impact you could have on the world around you if you perform that goal, those tasks, if you pursue it with excellence and get it done?

You could be the inspiration somebody else needs—just as I hope I am being an inspiration to the world around me.

My mission is to help 1,000 people. Not just with health. Not just with fitness. But with faith. With goals. With becoming better and better and better.

And today, I got to see that mission up close. Someone I care about, watching what I’m doing, asking “how are you doing this?”—genuinely interested, genuinely skeptical, genuinely open to learning.

That’s overwhelming in the best way.

Don’t Wait

I know what you’re thinking: But I’ve got so far to go. I have so much I need to get done.

The best time to start is now.

I implore you: Don’t wait. Make that list. Get started today.

Let’s keep moving forward.

Day 37: Complete ✓

All seven habits executed. End of week strong.

Round 1 Progress: 37/40 days (92.5%)

Weight: 277.1 lbs (12.4 lbs lost)

Three more days until Assessment Week.

Was It Always This Simple? Day 33 and the Truth About Starting

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

Day 33 of the 7-40 Challenge
Monday, February 2, 2026

Welcome to Day 33. I’m still here. Still going. And today, I accomplished all seven of my daily goals.

My hand is finally starting to feel better. My head’s in the right frame of mind. And I’m looking forward to getting after my goals even harder as we finish Round 1, move through Assessment Week (Feb 10-16), and charge into Round 2.

The Checkpoint

I started this year by writing out a goals list—a detailed vision for what I wanted 2026 to be. It’s not usually my forte, but I’ve been reviewing it regularly.

And right now? I’m actually on track.

The milestones I aimed for in Round 1? I’m hitting them:

  • 33 days of perfect execution on all seven habits
  • 8.5 pounds lost (already exceeded the lower target for Round 1)
  • Novel first revision complete (97 chapters, now with beta readers)
  • Daily blog posts (33 consecutive days of content)
  • Social media breakthrough (Day 23 – years of avoidance overcome)
  • Gratitude practice grounding the journey (weekly Thank You Campaign)

Coming up next: the second revision of my novel. My wife and son have been reading the first draft—it’s the first time I’ve ever written something like this and had people actually review it. I’m eager to get through it and keep going.

And as I mentioned yesterday, I’ve also started outlining a new novel (The Light Bearer) that’s been dormant in my head for five years. That’s got me excited too.

My daily habits are keeping my health and fitness on track. Overall? I’m thrilled with the progress.

The Question I Had to Ask

But here’s what I’ve been wondering: Was it really this easy all along?

Could I have just looked myself in the mirror years ago and said, “Alright, buddy, it’s time to achieve some goals. We’re going to sit down, write them out, and get after it”?

The hard truth? Yes. It really was this simple.

Easy? Heck no.

But simple? Absolutely.

Why We Don’t Start

I firmly believe we don’t achieve because we don’t risk. And we don’t risk because we’re afraid we’re going to fail.

It’s so much easier to stay where we are than to deal with failure.

But the hard truth is: everybody fails.

There’s a theory out there that if you’re willing to fail often and fail fast, you’ll find success faster than everyone else. I don’t know if that’s true or not.

But I do know this: If you put all your effort behind something you truly want to do, failure is not defeat. Failure is learning and growing along the path you’ve laid out for yourself.

Which is ultimately what we want to do.

What Writing Down Goals Actually Does

The thing I really appreciate about writing out a very detailed list at the beginning of the year is this: I get to tell myself what it is I want to do.

I get to be my own driver, pushing toward goals that I say are important to me.

And if I don’t work on them? I’ve essentially lied to myself.

So it behooves me to actually tell the truth. To set goals I actually want to accomplish. And I’m excited to say that so far, I’ve been able to do that.

I Don’t Want to Die with My Music Inside

I don’t want to die with my music still inside me. I don’t want to die one day with creativity that could have been something.

I don’t want to be sitting as an old man wondering “what if.”

I don’t want to look in the mirror one day and realize I no longer have the opportunity because I let it slip by.

I don’t want to have to tell my wife we can’t do something because I was unwilling to try.

I don’t want to tell my son he can’t achieve what he wants in his life because I couldn’t achieve it in mine.

I want to take every opportunity God has given me to do good and be good for this world. I want to set goals. I want to achieve them. And I want to make the most of the time I have.

Because God has been so good to me. He’s blessed me so richly.

And I can’t be anything but thankful. And in my thankfulness, it needs to spur me into action and good works.

Day 33: The Truth

So here’s what Day 33 taught me:

It was always this simple. Write down what you want. Show up every day. Do the work.

Not easy. But simple.

The best time to start was 20 years ago when I first started writing “someday I’ll…” notes.

The second best time? Day 1 of this challenge.

The third best time? Right now, wherever you are.

Start getting in the reps. Start working. Before you know it, there’s going to be so much done. You’re going to build so much momentum. You’re going to get so far.

And you won’t have to wonder “what if” anymore.

Day 33: Complete ✓

All seven habits executed. Still on track. Still building.

Round 1 Progress: 33/40 days (82.5%)

Seven more days until Round 1 is complete.

See you tomorrow for Day 34.

Do Not Grow Weary: Day 28 and the Setback That Won’t Stop Me

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

Day 28 of the 7-40 Challenge
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9

Yesterday, I wrote about the rules that make excellence possible. I laid out my seven daily habits—the clear structure that is helping me become the husband, father, and professional I’m meant to be.

I know what I need to do. I’ve set the rules for myself. The system is working.

And then life threw me a curveball.

The Setback

A few days ago, during the winter storm, I fell. Hard. I landed on my right hand.

To say it’s bruised is an understatement.

I’ve been trying to push through. I modified my workouts. I adjusted my grip. I told myself it would get better if I just kept going.

Today, my chiropractor told me the truth: I need to lay off lifting weights for at least a week to give my hand a chance to heal.

And here’s the question I had to ask myself: Do I let this setback derail me, or do I keep moving forward?

Why Getting Fit Isn’t Optional

I’m 47 years old. Getting fit is a must because getting older is no joke. I don’t move like I used to.

This isn’t about vanity. This isn’t about looking good for summer. This is about being able to show up fully for my wife and son. This is about not being the guy who can’t play with his grandkids someday because he didn’t take care of himself now.

Time is precious. I can’t afford to waste it.

And that’s what makes this setback so frustrating. I know I need this. I know every day counts. And now my body is telling me to stop—temporarily, but still.

So what do I do?

The Wisdom of Having a Plan

Here’s what I’ve learned over 28 days: If we’re smart, we have a plan in place for setbacks because we know setbacks are coming.

That’s what setbacks do. They come.

In my 2026 Vision Doc, I wrote out a crisis management protocol:

  • Family crisis: Full priority override
  • Personal illness or injury: Keep all habits except exercise if rest needed
  • Everything else: Spit out the blood and keep going

Today falls into category two.

My hand needs to heal. My chiropractor gave me professional guidance. Ignoring that isn’t toughness—it’s stupidity.

So I’m resting today. No exercise. No weightlifting. No yoga. Just rest.

But here’s the key: I’m still doing everything else.

✓ Bible study
✓ Calorie tracking
✓ Water
✓ Reading (Talk Like TED is firing me up)
✓ Gratitude
✓ Creative work (writing this post)
✗ Exercise (resting today)

Six out of seven habits completed. The system holds.

Tomorrow: Back to Forward Momentum

Day 29, I’ll pick up with a full hour of walking or walking and yoga. No weights until my hand is healed and my chiropractor clears me.

The weightlifting will wait. The 13-week plan will adjust. The rules I set for myself yesterday? They’re still in place. I’m just applying wisdom to how I execute them.

Because the goal isn’t to prove I’m tough by ignoring my body. The goal is to become the best version of myself for my family—and that requires sustainable health, not reckless pushing through pain.

Do Not Grow Weary

Paul’s words in Galatians 6:9 keep echoing in my head today:

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.”

The setback is frustrating. The pause is annoying. The lost week of lifting feels like wasted time.

But I’m not giving up.

I’m not growing weary.

Because I know the harvest is coming.

Twenty-eight days of consistent execution. Weight loss trending in the right direction. Novel revision progressing. Social media breakthrough in motion. Daily blog posts stacking up.

One week of modified exercise doesn’t erase 28 days of proof.

The rules are still in place. The system is still working. The mission is still clear.

I just have to be wise enough to know when to rest so I can keep going for the long haul.

What Do We Do When Setbacks Come?

We do what we planned to do.

We don’t panic. We don’t quit. We don’t let one obstacle derail the entire mission.

We adjust. We rest when needed. We keep moving forward with what we can do while we heal what we can’t.

And we remember: The harvest is coming if we do not give up.

Day 28 looks different than I wanted it to. But it’s not a failure. It’s wisdom in action.

Tomorrow, I walk. Next week, I lift again. The long game continues.

Do not grow weary of doing good.

The harvest is coming.

Day 28: Complete ✓

Six out of seven habits executed. Resting wisely to fight another day.

Round 1 Progress: 28/40 days (70%)

See you tomorrow for Day 29.

The Rules That Make Excellence Possible: Day 27

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

Day 27 of the 7-40 Challenge
Tuesday, January 27, 2026

I’m reading Carmine Gallo’s book Talk Like TED right now, and in Chapter 1, he asks a question that stopped me on my walk this morning:

“What makes your heart sing?”

The answer came immediately: Being a husband to to my bride. Being a father to my son.

That’s what makes my heart sing personally.

But then he asks another question: “What is your obsession? What are you passionate about?”

And that’s where things get interesting.

The Answer I Didn’t Expect

My obsession isn’t separate from what makes my heart sing. They’re connected.

I’m obsessed with becoming the best version of myself—not for followers, not for book sales, not for speaking fees—but because I can’t be the husband she deserves if I’m dragging.

I can’t be the father my son needs if I’m physically exhausted, mentally foggy, emotionally drained, or spiritually disconnected.

The better I become—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually—the more I can show up as the man they need. The more I can model the kind of intentional, loving marriage that’s lacking in so much of the world today.

And here’s the thing: I can’t fragment myself. I can’t be excellent at home and mediocre at work. I can’t be disciplined with my spiritual life and careless with my body.

Excellence has to run through everything, or it doesn’t run through anything.

What My Day Job Taught Me About Transformation

I’m a data professional. I’ve been doing this work for over 18 years.

And here’s what I know from my day job: There is process. There is order. There are rules.

Data management isn’t chaos. It’s systematic. Organized. Deliberate.

When you have clear rules—agreed-upon ways to do things—everyone knows how to play the game. Everyone knows what success looks like. Everyone has a shot at excellence.

If I don’t know the traffic laws, I’ll run into people.

If I don’t know the rules of football, I’ll tackle the wrong person and the other team will win.

If I don’t have clear habits, I’ll drift through life wondering why nothing ever changes.

Rules aren’t there to penalize us. Rules are there to help us play the game better.

And by knowing the rules and following the system—the workflow, the structure—we actually have an opportunity to be excellent.

The 7-40 Challenge: The Rules of My Game

So what are the rules I’ve set for myself?

I have to be spiritually healthy.
I have to be physically healthy.
I have to be mentally healthy.
I have to be emotionally healthy.

Because if I’m healthy in those four areas, I can do all the major things I need to do in my life: be a husband, be a father, be a good worker, be a good friend.

That’s why the seven habits aren’t random. They’re strategic:

  1. Bible Study & Prayer → Spiritual health
  2. Exercise (1 hour daily) → Physical health
  3. Calorie Tracking → Physical health
  4. Water (100oz daily) → Physical health
  5. Reading/Learning → Mental health
  6. Gratitude Practice → Emotional health
  7. Creative Work → Mental and emotional health

These aren’t restrictions. They’re the agreed-upon structure that makes excellence possible.

Just like the data governance frameworks I use at work, just like traffic laws, just like the rules of any game—the 7-40 Challenge works because it has rules.

And when you know the game, you can play it well.

How This Helps 1,000 People

Here’s why this matters for my mission to help 1,000 people:

I’m not trying to inspire anyone with motivational speeches. I’m not selling quick fixes or secret formulas.

I’m defining the rules of the game clearly so that anyone who wants to play can play.

Seven habits. Forty days. Analyze. Rinse. Repeat 7 times.

That’s it. That’s the game.

You don’t need to figure out your own system. You don’t need to guess what works. The rules are clear. I am proving the framework as I go.

And just like at my day job, when you define the process clearly, everyone else can follow it too.

That’s not restriction. That’s freedom.

Freedom to focus on execution instead of decision fatigue. Freedom to know exactly what “winning the day” looks like. Freedom to become excellent because the path is clear.

What Gallo’s Question Revealed

So when Carmine Gallo asked, “What makes your heart sing?” I thought the answer was simple: my family.

But what I realized on my walk this morning is that the 7-40 Challenge IS about my family.

It’s about becoming the man she deserves and the father my son needs.

It’s about not fragmenting myself—being one integrated person who brings the same commitment to excellence to every area of life.

And it’s about using the same process discipline that makes me excellent at data work to become even more excellent as a husband, father, and human. And vice versa.

The rules don’t limit me. They make excellence possible.

And if they work for me, they can work for you too.

Because the game has rules. And when you know the rules, you can win.

Day 27: Complete ✓

All seven habits executed. The rules are working.

Round 1 Progress: 27/40 days (67.5%)

See you tomorrow for Day 28.